BJP sweeps Goa, Parrikar front runner to become Chief Minister

Panaji: Cashing-in on the anti-incumbency factor in a big way, the BJP-MGP combine has come to power in Goa, ousting the Congress and securing 26 out of 40 seats.

While the BJP won in 21 assembly constituencies, seven more than last time, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party raised its tally from two in the last polls to three seats.

The rulung Congress-NCP combine managed an embarrasing nine seats. The Congress, which had 16 seats last time, was reduced to nine seats with many of its stalwarts, including several ministers and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Subhas Shirodkar, biting the dust. Its ally NCP, which had three seats last time, was wiped out in the state.

Four members of influential Alemao family Churchill, Joaquim, Valanka and Yuri, who were given tickets by Congress-NCP alliance lost.

So pronounced was the wind of change, that 19 new faces were elected this time.

Goa Vikas Party managed to win on two seats including Nuvem, where party supremo Miccky Pacheco emerged victorious, and Benaulim where its Caetan Silva managed to defeat Congress' Valanka Alemao.

Four of the five independents Benjamin Silva (Velim), Avertan Furtado (Navelim), Naresh Sawal (Bicholim) and Rohan Khaunte (Porvorim), wrested seats held by Congress, while Vijay Sardesai (Fatorda) snatched it from BJP.

Former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who spearheaded the BJP's charge on the illegal mining issue and is tipped to be the next chief minister, won from Panaji, defeating Congress' Yatin Parekh by over 5,000 votes.